Cellectis unveils safety CAR construct

In an effort to mitigate adverse effects associated with CAR T therapies, researchers at Cellectis S.A. (NASDAQ:CLLS; Euronext:ALCLS) and its collaborator Allogene Therapeutics Inc. (South San Francisco, Calif.) developed an integrated safeguard for CAR T cells to inactivate the cells. The researchers described the construct, dubbed CubiCAR, in a paper published Tuesday in Scientific Reports.

While other companies have developed safety, or suicide, switches for CAR T therapies, products in the clinic express the mechanism on the cell surface separate from the CAR,...